NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR ONE AUCKLAND WEEKLY NEWSPERSONNEL PARAGRAPHSFEBRUARY 1915

These are extracts from the Auckland Weekly News magazines and have been extracted with permission. Thanks to Jackie Walles for these.

February 1915

CHAPMAN, Lieut, RAMC -
Reference was made in the Dunedin press on Monday to an act of heroism by a British soldier at Boulogne recently. It was stated that in a south-westerly gale the Antoine Germaine, a Dunkirk fishing smack, with a crew of four, was trying to reach the harbour when it was driven into the surf about 200 yards from the beach. Three of the crew swam ashore but the skipper aged 63, who could not swim, remained on board. The old skipper afterwards jumped into the sea, apparently in the hope of being driven ashore but was soon in difficulties through the heavy waves breaking over him. Seeing this, Lieutenant Chapman, R.A.M.C., stripped to the waist and, taking a lifeline, swam out, with extraordinary strength, through the breakers and reached the drowning man and both were quickly pulled ashore. On reading of this, the Hon. Jas. Allen concluded that the paragraph referred to a son of Mr Justice Chapman and he telegraphed that gentleman congratulations on the plucky action of his son. Mr Allen received a message in reply: "Many thanks for message. Paragraph referred to George, who is engaged in hospital at Boulogne, unless he is now at front." [AWN 04.02.1915] P.33